Is Bathtub Refinishing Worth It? Yes, Depending on Your Tub
An affordable solution to freshen up your bathtub
Highlights
Refinishing a bathtub is more cost-effective than replacing it.
The average cost to refinish a bathtub is $480, compared to $3,400 to replace it.
Refinishing can fix minor cracks, scratches, and discoloration.
If your bathtub has major cracks or leaks, it’s better to replace it.
Say goodbye to a stained, scratched, or dated-looking bathtub by refinishing it. Your tub will look brand new but at a fraction of the cost—the average cost is $480 compared to $3,400 to replace a bathtub. You can refinish a tub if you are an experienced DIYer, but it's a job best left to a refinishing pro. Let’s take a closer look at some of the benefits and if this project is right for your bathroom needs.
What Is Bathtub Refinishing and How Long Does It Take?
Refinishing your tub repairs small dents and scratches and gives the surface a fresh glossy look. A contractor will sand the surface, fill in cracks, apply primer and paint, and then buff the entire tub.
While tricky, the whole process usually takes a day or less. It’s best to hire a bathtub refinisher to get the job done right, especially if you have an antique tub. Refinishers can also help with custom color matches so the finish doesn't look painted on, or they can help you choose a new color.
If you decide to tackle the project yourself, be sure to wear the right protective equipment and learn how to properly refinish a bathtub. Refinishing a tub carries health risks due to the harmful chemicals in the new coating.
Refinishing vs. Resurfacing
As you speak with contractors, you may come across the terms “refinishing,” “resurfacing,” or “reglazing” bathtubs, but all of these words can be used interchangeably. The same goes for the phrase “re-enameling.” These terms all refer to the same process: restoring the surface of your bathtub to make it look better and protect and enhance its durability.
Note that some bath contractors use “resurfacing” and “refinishing” to refer to everything that goes into sprucing up an old tub. Others may use the words to represent the step in the process of correcting the tub's surface before applying the top surface. “Reglazing” and “re-enameling” typically only apply to the final step of applying paint or a glaze coating.
When to Refinish vs. Replace Your Tub
In most cases, refinishing a bathtub is the best option. Almost all tub styles can be refinished, including cast iron, steel, acrylic, fiberglass, and porcelain tubs.
Refinishing a bathtub is worth it if:
You like the style of your bathtub, but it needs a fresh look.
You’re selling your home and want to update your bathroom.
Your bathtub is in solid condition except for minor scratches or stains.
Your bathtub is an antique or a style no longer made, making it difficult to replace.
You have a cast iron bathtub that is heavy and expensive to dispose of.
You don’t need to replace or update your plumbing.
If your old bathtub leaks or is seriously damaged or cracked, it may be better to replace your tub than refinish it. If you need to fix bathroom pipes or plumbing, it makes sense to replace your tub at the same time. Find a local bathtub replacement contractor to give you a quote.
Instead of refinishing, you could also install a tub liner on top of your existing tub. The average cost to install a bathtub liner is $6,400 but can range from $2,700 to $10,100.
If you’re not sure if you should refinish your bathtub or replace it, ask a bathtub refinisher near you for an onsite consultation. They can inspect your tub and help you determine if you should refinish or replace it.
Benefits of Refinishing a Bathtub
Enhanced Appearance
Refinishing or resurfacing your tub makes it look more aesthetically pleasing, getting rid of long-embedded stains on the surface. Refinishing your tub also fixes chips and cracks and removes signs of rust and discoloration both inside the tub and on the ledge. Since you can choose from many colors when reglazing your bathtub, it’s also an opportunity to add a new element of interior design to the space if you’d like to change from your previous color schemes.
Improved Durability
By refinishing your bathtub, you’re adding roughly 10 to 15 years to its life span. That’s because this process addresses chips and cracks, protecting the integrity of the fixture and its plumbing. Plus, this technique can restore even heavily damaged tubs and transform them into a modern marvel, complete with a slip-resistant surface.
Cost-Effective
If you opt to refinish your bathtub instead of buying a new one, you can save quite a bit of green—up to thousands of dollars—compared to buying a new one. If your bathtub could use a facelift and is looking dated or stained, refinishing it is a budget-friendly option over replacing the whole tub.
Cost of Refinishing vs. Replacing a Bathtub
Refinishing a bathtub can save you hundreds or thousands on replacing a bathtub. On average, the cost to refinish a bathtub is $480, but projects range from $200 to $1,000. Materials usually run $30 to $150 for a DIY refinishing kit. If you go with a pro, the labor can be anywhere from $200 to $500, depending on where you live.
The average cost of a bathtub replacement is $5,530, but the job can cost anywhere from $1,910 to $9,170. Replacement costs include additional expenses outside installation, like removing and disposing of your old tub. You may also need to hire a plumber if your new tub doesn’t fit with the old plumbing fixtures. You may also need to retile the walls or floors if the bathtub is a different size or shape than the original. In the end, you could spend thousands of dollars replacing a $400 bathtub.
Jenna Jonaitis contributed to this piece.
Frequently Asked Questions
Reglazing a bathtub usually lasts up to 15 years and is as durable as a brand-new tub. To maintain its longevity, clean your tub properly and avoid using abrasive cleaners.
It’s substantially cheaper to reglaze a tub than replace it. Bathtub reglazing is thousands of dollars cheaper than a full bathtub replacement. The average cost of reglazing a bathtub is somewhere between $300 and $600, but that range may be higher based on where you live and the type of tub you have. Meanwhile, if you want to replace the bathtub, you’re looking at $2,000 to $9,200, with the average close to $5,500.
The reglazed tub won’t last as long as a brand-new bathtub. Professional reglazing jobs can only last up to 15 years.
According to most pros, you can only reglaze a tub once or twice. So, if you’ve already reglazed your tub once, it might not be a realistic solution.
Some chemicals used in reglazing a bathtub can be dangerous to your health. If you’re DIYing the project, make sure the room is ventilated and you’re wearing a mask at all times. If you hire a contractor, make sure you get the clearance to use the bathroom again.